Pandurang Salgaonkar, the curator at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) ground in Pune has been suspended after being accused of agreeing to tamper with the pitch upon request of reporters disguised as bookies during a sting operation.

The sting operation
was carried out by reporters of India Today, who posing as bookies
asked Salgaonkar to prepare the pitch as per their demands, to which
the pitch curator readily agreed.

In
Focus

This scandal has
emerged just ahead of the second ODI scheduled to be played at Pune
on Wednesday during the ongoing three-match series. The Indian team
is already under pressure after losing the series opener to the Kiwis
on last Sunday in Mumbai.

Apart from agreeing
to prepare the pitch as per the specifications of the bookies,
Salgaonkar has also been accused of allowing the reporters disguised
as bookies on the pitch and letting them tamper with it. He has
reportedly now been barred from entering the ground.

"The MCA has also suspended Salgaonkar from all other positions
in the association. An inquiry Commission will also be constituted by
MCA. At BCCI, we reiterate that we have zero tolerance towards any
corrupt activity," he added further.

As per the India Today report, the curator said that the Pune
pitch for Wednesday's encounter would be a run-fest where a total of
337-340 was easily gettable 'either way'. Salgaonkar also revealed
during the sting operation that the a high total like 337 would be
easily chaseable on the track.

However, despite the controversy, the match will go ahead as
scheduled, Amitabh Chaudhary has told PTI.